Plywood: if I'm applying vinyl to sides, do I need to stain/paint/clearcoat?

[Dreamwriter]

Just what the subject says   I'm building my little arcade machine outta plywood, and planning on using that adhesive vinyl from Parts Express on all external surfaces.  So do I need to do anything to the wood?  You know, to make it last longer or something?  I'm an extreme woodworking newb

[NightGod]

I throw a sloppy coat of paint on my CP before I applied the vinyl-I was worried about the wood absorbing too much of the adhesive and getting peeling issues later on down the line.

[arcade-mad]

I covered one of my cabs in fablon vinal and had no peeling problems as yet and its had a load of use and abuse 

just apply the vinal then warm it up with the hairdrier to get the glue warm them smooth out any bubbles you get a great finish using this metod and better glue stickability (is that a word ?) when the vinal is warm.